Petunia plant named `Isidore`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named `Isidore`, characterized by its large bright purple flowers; floriferous with numerous flowers per plant; early flowering; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; spreading plant habit and freely branching; strong, healthy foliage; strong and fast rooting; good weather resistance; and resistance to phytopathological mildews.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia axillaris, and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name `Isidore`.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Scharrachbergheim, France. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new Petunia cultivars having desirable flowercolors, large flower size, strong healthy foliage, and small leaves.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of theinventor's proprietary Petunia selection No. 93P15, as the male orpollen parent, with the Petunia cultivar `Surfinia Shihi Purple` (notpatented), as the female or seed parent, in June, 1993.

The cultivar `Isidore` was discovered and selected by the inventor inNovember, 1993, as a flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross in a controlled environment in Scharrachbergheim, France. Asexualreproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken atScharrachbergheim, France, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Petunia are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

The cultivar `Isidore` has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Scharrachbergheim,France, under commercial production conditions.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Isidore`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Isidore` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Large bright purple flowers.

2. Floriferous with numerous flowers per plant.

3. Early flowering.

4. Very vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.

5. Spreading plant habit and freely branching.

6. Strong, healthy foliage.

7. Strong and fast rooting.

8. Good weather resistance: tolerant to rain, drought and temperatureextremes.

9. Resistant to phytopathological mildews.

Plants of the cultivar `Isidore` are similar in flower color to plantsof the parent cultivar `Surfinia Shihi Purple`. Plants of the cultivar`Isidore` differ from plants of the cultivar `Surfinia Shihi Purple` inthe following characteristics:

1. Flowers of the cultivar `Isidore` are larger than flowers of thecultivar `Surfinia Shihi Purple`.

2. The petal color of plants of the cultivar `Isidore` is lighter thanthe petal color of plants of the cultivar `Surfinia Shihi Purple`.

3. Plants of the cultivar `Isidore` flower 8 to 10 days earlier thanplants of the cultivar `Sufinia Shihi Purple`.

4. Plants of the cultivar `Isidore` are more freely branching andtherefore denser and bushier than plants of the cultivar `Sufinia ShihiPurple`.

5. Plants of the cultivar `Isdore` are more weather tolerant than plantsof the cultivar `Surfinia Shihi Purple`.

6. Leaves of plants of the cultivar `Isidore` are stronger and moreresistant to phytopathological mildews than leaves of plants of thecultivar `Surfinia Shihi Purple`.

7. Plants of the cultivar `Isidore` have stronger and more vigorous rootsystems than plants of the cultivar `Surfinia Shihi Purple`.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typicalhanging basket plant of the cultivar `Isidore`.

The second photograph comprises a close-up view of individual flowers ofthe cultivar `Isidore`. Flower and foliage colors in the photographs mayappear different than the actual colors due to light reflectance.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for thedescription were grown in glass-covered greenhouses during the summer inScharrachbergheim, France. Measurements are averages or ranges from tenspecimens selected at random from five plants.

Botanical Classification: Petunia axillaris cultivar `Isidore`.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent. Inventor's Petunia axillaris proprietaryselection No. 93P15.

Female or seed parent. Petunia axillaris cultivar `Surfinia ShihiPurple` (not patented).

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal vegetative cuttings.

Time to initiate and develop roots.--About ten days at 20° C. soiltemperature.

Rooting habit.--Numerous, fine, fibrous, and well-branched.

Plant description:

Form.--Indeterminate, decumbent, diffuse spreading, viscid, glandularpubescent.

Branching habit.--Freely branching, usually about 8 branches per stem.

Plant height (from soil level to top of plant plane).--8 to 9 cm.

Spreading area of plant.--16 to 18 cm.

Vigor.--Very vigorous, rapid growth rate.

Crop time.--10 to 12 weeks from an unrooted cutting to produce afinished and flowering specimen in a 12.5-cm container.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical and longpersisting. Leaves at first whorled, later alternate, somewhat fleshy.Size: Juvenile: Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Mature:Length: 5.5 to 6 cm. Width: 3.5 to 4 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute.Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth. Color: Young foliage upperside: 137C. Young foliage under side: 137D. Mature foliage upper side:137C. Mature foliage under side: 137D.

Stem description.--Diameter About 3 mm. Internode length: 2 to 4 cm.Color: Green, 137C, anthocyanin development may give a reddish tint whenplants are exposed to cooler temperatures. Texture: Very pubescent.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Large, single, salverform flowers, facingupwards, axillary. Calyx five-parted, petals united into a flower tube.

Natural flowering season.--Long day responsive, continuously flowersfrom spring through fall. Flowers self-cleaning

Quantity.--Numerous flowers per plant.

Flower bud.--Length: 3.5 to 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.

Corolla.--Diameter: 6.5 to 8 cm. Height: 4 to 5 cm. Petal quantity:Five, fused. Petal apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire, slightly serrated andundulating. Texture: Velvety and smooth. Color: Petal color, adaxialsurface: 74A. Petal color, abaxial surface: 80B. Petal vein color,adaxial surface: 79A. Petal vein color, abaxial surface: 79B. Throat:79A.

Sepals.--Quantity: Five. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire orslightly lobed. Aspect: Upright. Color, abaxial and adaxial surfaces:137C.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Erect. Size: Length: 3 to 4 cm. Width: About 1 mm.Color: 137C.

Reproductive organs.--Stigma above anthers, superior ovary. Stamens:Stamen number: Five. Anther size: About 1 mm. Anther color: 106B.Pistils: Stigma color: 137A. Style length: About 1.8 cm.

Disease Resistance: Resistant to phytopathological mildews.

Seed Production: Rarely observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named`Isidore`, as illustrated and described.